Polish container



Jan. 2, 1962 D. s. ANDERSON 3,015,120

POLISH CONTAINER Filed Jan. 19. 1959 Invenfo 1 Donald G. flmderson.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,015,120 Patented Jan. 2, 1962 3,015,120 POLISH CONTAINER Donald G. Anderson, 129 S. Prospect Ave., Clarendon Hills, Ill. Filed Jan. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 787,641 2 Claims. (Cl. 15--258) This invention relates to a polish container and has to do more particularly with a combination container and applicator. The invention is directed especially to a kittype device comprising a container, a polish material, and an applicator associated with a cap of the container.

Polishes are ordinarily marketed in small containers. The polish is removed from the container and applied with an extraneous applicator, such as a cloth or brush which may be found around the household or purchased as a separate article of merchandise. The use of such polishes is a messy operation and often requires a new applicator each time it is desired to use the polish.

Combination applicators and containers have been proposed heretofore, but such devices have certain inherent disadvantages which have interfered with their widespread use. For example, in using a kit'comprising a container for a semi-solid or hard polish, having an applicator brush in the top, difficulty has been encountered in contacting the brush with the polish. The body of the polish becomes hard and dry, and also during use the surface recedes toward the bottom of the container. Even with ascrew top or similar means for twisting the brush, it is ditficult to reach the surface of the last portion of the polish.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate contact between the applicator and the polish in a combination applicator and polish container.

Another object of the invention is to produce a polish container having a movable body of polish and an applicator built into the top of the polish container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a polish kit having a refillable polish container.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a polish kit having a pusher or screw-type polish container.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

FIGURE I is an exploded view showing the polish container, the applicator cover, and a push-pull removable bottom.

FIGURE II is a vertical sectional view of the assembled device with the polish in place.

The device of the present invention is essentially a refillable forcing or pusher type polish container having an applicator associated with a detachable cap. The combination also includes a cartridge or stick of semisolid or solid polish which may be inserted through the bottom.

The invention will be described as applied to a shoe polish kit, but it is to be understood that it is also applicable to other types of polishing outfits including those for polishing cars, furniture, floors, various household appliances and equipment, etc.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral designates the body of a polish container, 11 a detachable top, and 12 a removable push-pull bottom.

The body portion 10 of the container, as shown in FIGURE I, is in the form of an elongated cylinder or tube open at both ends. A constriction 15 in the wall of the container separates it into upper and lower portions.

The upper portion of the container is fitted with an applicator, such as a brush 16. The upper ends of the bristles of the brush are secured to a head 18, and the lower ends are free for contacting the polish and for absorbing or otherwise causing portions of the polish to adhere to the bristles.

The lower portion of the container is intended as a holder for a body of polish material, such as a semisolid or solid stick 20. The top of the body of polish is maintained against the lower edge of the constricting ring 15 so that the upper surface of the stick is available for contact with the free end of the brush 16.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, the push-pull slide 12 is used to close the lower end of the container and to keep the upper periphery of the body of polish 20 tightly against the constricting ring 15. The outer walls of the push-pull slide fit against the inner wall of the container with suificient firmness so that it will stay in place when used to force the stick of polish upwardly as it is consumed. The push-pull slide is advantageously provided with webs 21 which may be grasped with the fingers to give it a twist or to pull or to push it as desired.

Instead of a push-pull slide, other means for moving the polish may be used. One means contemplated is a threaded cap'which may be screwed into the lower end of the container so that the cap is either elevated or lowered depending on which way the cap is turned. The polish stick may be a separate member or an integral part of the slide or cap.

The constricting ring 15 is optional. It may be omitted if the polish is an integral part of the'bottom closure, particularly when a screw-type bottom cap is used. The use of the constriction, however, is advantageous for de termining when the upper surface of the polish is at the proper height. The constriction should only be sufiiciently large to impart resistance to the upward movement of the polish and should be small enough not to interfere with the free contact of the applicator with substantially the entire surface of the polish.

The cap 11, as shown in the drawings, contains a lip portion 25 adapted to slide over the upper end of the container. Preferably the head 18 of the brush is rigidly fixed to the underside of the cap 11. The lip 25 is advantageously equipped with corrugations or other type of roughened surface to facilitate grasping the top. Also, if desired, the cap may be threaded onto the container. The cap may be pushed or turned to adjust it up or down to apply polish to the bristles and to remove the brush from the container.

The container body and end closures may be made of any suitable rigid or semirigid materials, such as metals or plastics, which are compatible with the polish. Polyethylene, acrylic acid or vinyl type resins may be used as construction materials. Polyethylene has been found satisfactory with the push-pull type of slide or cap, since this resin imparts the desirable degree of plasticity and friction to the contact walls.

The polish is preferably used in the form of a stick which may or may not be attached to the movable bottom member 12. A refill may be provided in a disposable push type of container of suitable material, such as cardboard, of the same diameter as the container body 10. The slide 12 may be removed and the refill pushed out of the container into the cylinder '10. If a screw-type member instead of a slide is used, such member may or may not be an integral part of the refill stick.

In using the device of the invention, the cap and brush are inserted in the top of the container body. A stick of polish is placed in the container and forced firmly against the constricting ring by the push-pull slide. By pushing down and twisting on the applicator cap to cause the brush to contact the polish, a sufiicient amount of polish material is transferred to the brush. The applicator is then removed and the polish applied to the article to be treated. As the polish is consumed by repeating the foregoing operation, the push-pull slide may be shoved upwardly to maintain the stick against the constricting ring. When the polish is used up the container is reloaded by removing the push-pull slide and inserting a refill.

If desired, the container may be sufficiently large to hold a cartridge-type refill containing one or more extra sticks of polish as a reserve supply. In this way, not only is an adequate supply of refill stock obtained, but such refills may be kept tightly sealed, in separate wrappers if desired, so that they will be fresh when used.

An advantage of the present invention is that the brush and polish are kept in a substantially airtight enclosure and drying out and hardening thereof are avoided. Also the invention provides a kit having a self-contained polish and applicator. The kit may be of various sizes ranging from a relatively large household device to a small article suitable for placing in the pocket or purse.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are inciated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A polish kit comprising an elongated hollow container, open at both ends, a constriction in the wall of said container intermediate of said ends, dividing the container into two sections, a closure cap for one end having an applicator member attached to the underside thereof, said applicator member extending to such constriction when the cap is in place, a body of polish material in the other section, a push-pull closure adapted to be inserted in the other end of said container and to be pushed and pulled in said other section, the outer side of said pushpull closure having a web to be grasped by the fingers for pushing the closure against one end of the polish material and for forcing the other end of the polish material against such constriction and in contact with the end of the applicator.

2. A refillable polish kit comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical container, open at both ends, a constricttion in the wall of said container inter-mediate of said ends, dividing the container into two sections, a closure cap for one end, an applicator adapted to fi-t into the section closed by said closure cap and associated with said closure cap for accumulating polish and for applying the polish to a surface, said applicator extending from the cap to said restriction when the cap is in place, a body of polish material in the other section of the con tainer, a push-pull closure adapted to be insetred in the other end of said container and to be pushed or pulled in said other section, means on the outer side of said pushpull closure for assisting manipulation by the fingers to push said closure against the polish material and to force it against the restriction and in contact Wih the end of said applicator.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,969 Altshul Jan. 27', 190 3 1,631,283 Morgan June 7, 1927 2,705,811 Moran Apr. 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 222,982 Great Britain Oct. 16, 1924' 240,066 Great Britain Sept. 24, 1925 526,513 Italy May is, 1955 

